San Diego  San Diego Mayor Bob Filner, who has been dogged by calls for his resignation over sexual harassment allegations, called his treatment of women “inexcusable” Friday and said he would undergo two weeks of intensive behavioral therapy but not relinquish power.

“I must become a better person,” Filner said in a statement read before a throng of reporters. “And my hope is that by becoming a better person, I put myself in a position to someday be forgiven. However, before I can even think of asking for forgiveness, I need to demonstrate that my behavior has changed. And that will only happen over time and only if such incidents never, ever happen again.”

Mayor Filner said he will not resign and will tend to City business while undergoing counseling. His Chief of Staff, Lee Burdick is at right, and one of several members of his SDPD security is at left.
— John Gibbins / UT San Diego

San Diego Mayor Bob Filner, right, called his treatment of women “inexcusable” and said he would undergo two weeks of intensive behavioral therapy but not relinquish power at a news conference.
— K.C. Alfred / UT San Diego

At a morning press conference in his office,embattled San Diego Mayor Bob Filner announced on Friday July 26, 2013 that he was placing himself in a two week program to start him on a road to correct his inappropriate behavior ...
— John Gibbins / UT San Diego

Land-use consultant Michael Pallamary, left, with coat and tie, tried to get a meeting with the Mayor but had to settle for leaving him a notice that he was going to start a recall petition drive if he didn't resign ...
— John Gibbins / UT San Diego

At a morning press conference in his office, mbattled San Diego Mayor Bob Filner announced on Friday July 26, 2013 that he was placing himself in a two week program to start him on a road to correct his inappropriate ...
— John Gibbins / UT San Diego

At a morning press conference in his office, mbattled San Diego Mayor Bob Filner announced on Friday July 26, 2013 that he was placing himself in a two week program to start him on a road to correct his inappropriate ...
— John Gibbins/UT San Diego Sr.Sta

San Diego Mayor Bob Filner, right, called his treatment of women “inexcusable” and said he would undergo two weeks of intensive behavioral therapy but not relinquish power at a news conference.
— K.C. Alfred / UT San Diego

Filner, the city’s first Democratic mayor in 20 years, has been under siege for two weeks but the scandal intensified in recent days as seven women stepped forward with accusations that he made unwanted sexual advances, including kisses, groping and derogatory comments.

The bad news kept coming for Filner throughout Friday as a formal effort to recall him began, the head of the Democratic National Committee called for him to step down, he was served with a subpoena in a sexual harassment lawsuit and a former male intern corroborated stories of Filner’s inappropriate behavior toward women.

It has been a stunning implosion for the longtime politician who presented himself to voters as a progressive champion of the disenfranchised but now stands accused of using his authority to repeatedly demean and abuse women.

Filner’s willingness to seek treatment and issue a second public apology did little to placate the growing number of accusers and critics because he won’t meet their top demand: Resign.

“I view his decision to seek therapy as a ploy to stay in power and to try to gain sympathy,” said attorney Gloria Allred. “If he feels he needs therapy, he should resign first and then seek it. It is ridiculous to think that he needs therapy in order to understand that women deserve respect and should not be treated like pieces of meat.”

Allred filed a lawsuit Monday against Filner and the city on behalf of her client Irene McCormack Jackson, the mayor’s former communications director and the first woman to go public with the allegations.

Filner’s statement took less than three minutes Friday but was awkwardly interrupted for several minutes by a microphone malfunction. He started over once the problem was fixed and left without taking questions.

“Let me be absolutely clear: The behavior I have engaged in over many years is wrong,” he said. “My failure to respect women and the intimidating conduct I engaged in at times is inexcusable. It has undermined what I have spent my professional life working on: fighting for equality and justice for all people.”

Filner added, “I apologize to my staff. I apologize to the citizens and staff members who have supported me over the years. I apologize to the people of San Diego. And, most of all, I apologize to the women I have offended.”